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Calling all Manufacturing Mates

Suicide affects us all. The suicide of a friend, family member or workmate can be devastating across the whole community and particularly at work. Over 3,000 Australians die from suicide each year; of these, 75 per cent of them are men. It’s a leading cause of death for people in the 25-39 age group. The pandemic has brought mental health issues into the forefront. Despite the devastating number of workers infected with Covid-19 in workplaces, Safe Work Australia have reported that nearly one in every five Covid related workers’ compensation claims were generated on mental health grounds. In manufacturing, with many predominantly male or multicultural workers, there have been barriers to discussing mental health as openly as possible. Mates in Manufacturing has been set up to remedy the challenges of suicide ideation and mental health more generally. Bringing together employers and unions and drawing on the expertise of the Mates organisation, Mates in Manufacturing is now ready to deliver its critical workplace training, building this peer-based program within our workplaces and developing the knowledge within our industry to enable us to confront this. Funding has been secured from both the NSW and Federal Governments for research by Western Sydney, Deakin and Melbourne Universities, to ensure that the programs are fit for purpose. Undertaken as a partnership between employers and unions in the sector, Mates in Manufacturing will start its rollout over November this year and will officially launch on December 10. Members of the group overseeing the project, the steering committee come from manufacturing industry leaders like Downer Group, OPAL, UGL, Stramit and Thales and are joined by the Australian Industry Group, with workers represented by the AMWU, AWU and UWU. We recognise that suicide prevention and improving mental health support transcends traditional workplace issues and that by working together […]

Overseas and Australian executives to accelerate pathways to net zero emissions

The Impact X Summit Sydney to be held on November 2-3, brings together an ambitious line-up of Australian and international leaders from government, NGOs, Indigenous organisations, and industry sectors, to discuss technology, investment, and collaborative pathways to net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As the world grapples with the need for urgent and genuine action to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction by 2030, Australians have consistently stated that they believe the Australian Government should be doing more to address climate change, with one of the most recent polls being conducted by the Australian Conservation Foundation showing that 67% of voters overall shared this view which was held in all 151 national seats. “Under the Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reduce emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2030, a level which is well below that of other OECD nations. “While a more ambitious target is expected soon, Australian business and industry will then need an unprecedented level of innovation, transformation and investment to deliver on our commitments. Technology will be key to this,” said Tony Gourlay, CEO of Blue Impacts, the organisation behind the summit. Matt Kean, NSW Treasurer & Minister for Energy & Environment, who has been leading the charge for net zero emissions with a series of bold policy commitments, will also be speaking at the summit. The summit will ensure that a voice is given to Indigenous Australians, who have largely been left out of the conversation on climate change. The Gaimaragal Group Founder and Director Susan Moylan-Coombs, who will be speaking at the summit said, “All Indigenous peoples globally are the caretakers of the planet. “We only took what we needed, not what we greeded. The perseverance of all Indigenous people in the face of global extractive economic practices and […]

Bullish sentiment dominates logistics

Business restrictions and border closures haven’t dampened the enthusiasm of Australian transport and warehouse operations with the latest CartonCloud Logistics Index (CCLI) showing high industry optimism and strong growth expectations. The second edition of the CartonCloud Logistics Index took the pulse of warehouse and transport businesses in the second quarter of 2021 with 52 survey respondents providing feedback on business operating conditions, workforce and hiring outlook, growth, opportunities and challenges. CartonCloud founder Vincent Fletcher said the latest CCLI provided deep insight into sentiment into the industry and the opportunities and challenges facing businesses. “The logistics industry continues to go from strength to strength and this quarter demonstrated high optimism for the current economic climate,” Mr Fletcher said. “Australia is relying on the local logistics industry now more than ever and that means more business, stable jobs and more growth opportunities. “Businesses are forecasting growth for the rest of 2021, although there’s slightly lower optimism for hiring compared to the first quarter. “The reduction in hiring expectations could be a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions and economic impacts, but it may also mean businesses have fulfilled the hiring intentions they had in the previous quarter. “Overall, the economic shifts, government stimulus and changes to business practices in response to the pandemic have had a neutral or slightly positive net impact on the logistics industry. “This has offset many of the negative effects from business restrictions and border closures. “The CCLI also put a spotlight on environmentally friendly practices in the industry and the Q2 results show a clear opportunity for improvement. “Switching to paperless technology is the most likely investment businesses are targeting to improve environmental practices. “The results of the index point towards a robust industry capitalising on economic conditions with strong confidence for the future.” STATISTIC SNAPSHOT Economic climate General […]

Australia’s clean hydrogen revolution is a path to prosperity

–John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University. Days out from the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, the Morrison government on Tuesday announced a “practically achievable” path to reaching its new target of net-zero emissions by 2050. As expected, the government will pursue a “technology not taxes” approach – eschewing policies such as a carbon price in favour of technological solutions to reduce emissions. Developing Australia’s fledgling hydrogen industry is a central plank in the plan. This technological shift should not be seen as a cost burden for Australia. Yes, major transformation in industry is needed as it moves away from conventional fossil-fuelled processes. But this green industrial revolution is a potential source of great profit and prosperity – a fact Australia’s business sector has already recognised. Acting quickly, and powering the shift with renewable energy, means Australia can be a world leader in green hydrogen technology and exports, particular to Asia. A ‘priority technology’ Hydrogen can be produced in several ways. So-called “green” hydrogen is produced using electrolysers, powered by renewable energy, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. “Blue” hydrogen is produced from coal or gas, with some carbon emissions trapped and stored underground. A report released earlier this month found Australia could create 395,000 new jobs and generate A$89 billion in new trade by 2040 by investing in clean energy exports. Some of the biggest opportunities were in green hydrogen produced using renewable energy. The National Hydrogen Strategy, published in late 2019 and spearheaded by then-Chief Scientist Alan Finkel, aims to make Australia a world leader in hydrogen. Under the most optimistic scenario, it predicts Australia’s hydrogen industry could be worth A$26 billion to the economy in 2050. Energy Minster Angus Taylor on Tuesday said clean hydrogen was a “priority technology” in the government’s roadmap to reaching net-zero emissions this century, […]

RS Components supports future-focused Engineering programs

RS Components (RS) is proud to announce a three-year partnership with Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB), supporting its ‘Regioneering’ and ‘Pathways’ programs. These programs are designed to inspire students from First Nations backgrounds in rural and remote regions of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands to explore how they can contribute to creating a better world through STEM-related vocations. The EWB and RS partnership aims to strengthen relationships with First Nations communities; to inspire, educate and train students, practitioners, advocates and leaders of engineering; and to contribute to meaningful and lasting social change. EWB Australia began in Melbourne in 2003 with a small group of engineers dedicated to harnessing the potential of engineering to create an equitable reality for the planet and its people. Today, the EWB community includes thousands of people and dozens of organisations working together to create a world where technology benefits all. EWB CEO Eleanor Loudon said, “RS Components multi-year commitment to EWB is significant. It ensures that our highly impactful programs can reach and inspire even more First Nations young people. “This work is key in shifting the perception of what engineering is, communicating the role engineers play in the world with a focus on real-world examples in their own backyard, and portraying diverse examples of what an engineer looks like. We do this with hands-on activity based learning. This is critical in ensuring that the people creating solutions to some of the world’s most wicked problems represent all voices in society.” Regioneering and Pathways is a focused part of EWB’s Outreach program, which commenced in 2015. Over the past year, this program has been delivered by over 190 university volunteers from the likes of RMIT, University of Sydney and Monash who have facilitated 266 workshops, inspiring more than 6000 students at 88 schools across […]

WA Government must put an end to port strike

The Western Australian Government must step up and seek to put an end to the CFMMEU’s prolonged and irresponsible strike action at Fremantle Port, says Australian Resources and Energy Group AMMA. After three months of ongoing strikes, AMMA is highly concerned that major international shipping companies are now forced to bypass Fremantle Port and freight critical mining, resources and agricultural supplies by road and rail into Western Australia. “Employers in Australia’s resources and farming sectors are doing their best to keep their businesses and the economy afloat during this pandemic, the last thing they need is an act of industrial bastardry delaying the delivery of critical plant and equipment,” Steve Knott AM, AMMA Chief Executive, said. “It’s highly irresponsible for the CFMMEU to block the unloading of large international cargo carriers at Fremantle Port at a time when interstate movement of freight is difficult, costly and a proven risk of introducing COVID-19 into virus-free regions. “During the pandemic, Western Australia’s border and quarantine resources should be freed-up as much as possible to process essential freight and people returning or travelling to the state, often for compassionate reasons. “With the Western Australian Government set to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all resources sector workers – an initiative AMMA supports and welcomes – it beggars belief the state would wash its hands of this industrial dispute and put all responsibility on the Commonwealth. “This is a serious state issue. By stopping all work at Fremantle Port, the CFMMEU is not only damaging WA’s revenue-generating industries, but also creating new potential COVID-19 entry points at a time the government is taking all measures to keep the virus out. “Premier Mark McGowan must write to the President of the Fair Work Commission seeking, as per section 423 of the Fair Work Act, to put a […]

Industry brokers to build Australia’s manufacturing future

Creating ‘industry brokers’ at the nation’s key research infrastructure facilities could propel a new wave of home-grown advanced manufacturing industries, the science and technology peak body says. Science & Technology Australia’s submission to the Senate inquiry on manufacturing proposes the cut-through idea to help industry tap into specialised research facilities. The Australian Government funds major national research infrastructure specialist facilities as the backbone of our research capability. They include complex facilities in geological surveying, supercomputing, specialised DNA studies, precision medicines, and new treatments for disease funded via the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme. Science & Technology Australia CEO Misha Schubert said: “These assets are key to Australia’s entire research enterprise – and long-term secure funding for them is essential to achieve the nation’s research ambitions,” she said. “But industry partners can often find it really hard to work out how to access these highly specialised facilities.” “We’d like to see the creation of new ‘industry broker’ roles to help businesses get to know these capabilities and identify how the business can use them.” “We see a huge advantage especially for advanced manufacturing firms to be able to reach into these specialist facilities for expertise, support and assets.” “These roles should be created with a funding boost on top of operational budgets.” Science & Technology Australia also calls for a new Research Translation Fund – and a national strategy to drive further advances in clean energy technology and expand clean energy advanced manufacturing onshore. “We should capitalise on the growing global demand for clean energy technology made in Australia using our abundance of clean energy raw materials,” she said. “The bottom line is that we should be trying to ensure that what is discovered in Australia is made in Australia.” Read the full submission here.

Will we ever know the truth?

The origins of Covid-19 are shrouded in mystery. Scientists and government officials insisted, for a year and a half, that the virus had a natural origin, ridiculing anyone who dared contradict this view. Tech giants swept the internet, censoring and silencing debate in the most extreme fashion. Yet it is undeniable that a secretive facility in Wuhan was immersed in genetically manipulating bat-coronaviruses in perilous experiments. And as soon as the news of an outbreak in Wuhan leaked, the Chinese military took control and gagged all laboratory insiders. Part-thriller, part-expose, What Really Happened in Wuhan is a ground-breaking investigation from Walkley award winning journalist Sharri Markson into the origins of Covid-19, the cover-ups, the conspiracies and the classified research. It features never-before-seen primary documents exposing China’s concealment of the virus, fresh interviews with whistleblower doctors in Wuhan and crucial eyewitness accounts that dismantle what we thought we knew about when the outbreak hit. With unprecedented access to Washington insiders, Markson takes you inside the White House, with senior Trump lieutenants revealing first-hand accounts of fiery Oval Office clashes and new stories of compromised government advisors and censored scientists. Bravely reported and chillingly laid out, Markson brings to light the stories of the pandemic from the people on the ground: the scientists and national security officials who raised uncomfortable truths and were labelled conspiracy theorists, until government agencies began to suspect they might have been right all along. These brave individuals persisted through bruising battles and played a crucial role in investigating the origins of Covid-19 to finally, in this book, bring us closer to the truth of what really happened in Wuhan.

RS Components launches RS PRO Facilities Maintenance Solutions

RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions, has launched the RS PRO Facilities Maintenance solutions portfolio, which comprises quality-tested products for a host of industries and working environments. Aimed at a broad selection of customers in Australia and New Zealand, the range supports maintenance requirements within the process manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, utilities and energy, engineering services, mining aggregates and construction, wholesale and distribution, transport and defence sectors, and design and development laboratories. The expanded range introduces over 1,000 products to offer a comprehensive choice of quality products including site safety and lighting solutions, tool kits, janitorial & cleaning, test & measurement, workwear & personal protective equipment (PPE) and more. All products in the RS PRO Facilities Maintenance range have high in-stock availability and have been through rigorous testing processes to ensure reliability to meet design and compliance specifications. They are covered by the RS PRO Seal of Approval and come with a three-year warranty. “The RS PRO range increases the breadth and depth of choice for customers seeking facilities maintenance products that meet design and compliance specifications, at a competitive price,” said Ian Macgregor, RS PRO Product Manager, for Australia & New Zealand (ANZ). “We offer a huge variety of products for different applications to keep facilities and buildings operating efficiently and safely and help keep businesses running smoothly.”

D-Link launches new, sleek and discreet home security cameras

D-Link has launched its new DCS-6500LH Compact Full HD Pan & Tilt and DCS-6100LH Compact Full HD Sleek and Discreet Wi-Fi Home Security Cameras. DCS-6100LH Compact Full HD Wi-Fi Camera Sleek and discreet, the Compact DCS-6100LH Full HD Wi-Fi Camera blends enhanced Smart Home Surveillance features with a stylish, subtle design. IR Night Vision together with Sound and Motion Detection alerts you instantly when something unexpected happens, giving you extra peace of mind with the latest in home security camera technology. The DCS-6100LH brings crystal clear surveillance as it allows you to monitor your home in Full HD 1080p resolution with a wide-angle 110-degree Field of View (FOV), day or night, making it the perfect 24/7 home security companion. Designed to be stylish, subtle and simple to use, it’s ideal for discreet placement anywhere throughout your home. The DCS-6100LH’s built-in Sound and Motion Detection enables you to trigger alerts that are automatically sent to your mobile device and the video clip recordings let you stay aware of what’s going on at all times in your home – and yes, it’s ideal as a baby monitor or office camera as well. If you’re worried that you’ll lose all your camera footage the DCS-6100LH Compact Full HD Wi-Fi Camera lets you record snapshots and video clips to the cloud for anytime access. You can also play back recordings from the cloud or download footage to your mobile device from anywhere, anytime through the Internet. DCS-6500LH Compact Full HD Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera The DCS-6500LH Compact Full HD Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera gives you 340° views as its Pan & Tilt technology allows you to see virtually every angle of any room. With Motion and Sound Detection as well as Night Vision that provides up to five metres of monitoring in complete […]

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